Brooder



H. c. WASHBURN 2,309,720

Feb. 2, 1943.

BROODER Filed Feb. 4, 1942 INVENT OR.

l HEQERT C MSA/5mm l Patented Feb. 2, 1943 UNETED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE BROODER Herbert C. Washburn, Detroit, Mich.

Application February 4, 1942, Serial No. 429,444

3 Claims.

This invention relates to brooders and in particular to brooders for small chicks.

In brooders of the usual construction baby chicks huddle to the heating means or warmest portion thereof in such close proximity to each other that the smaller chicks and the ones closest to the warmest portion of the brooder become smothered with the result that ofttimes the mortality rate in a brooder exceeds fty per cent of the brood. Also, sanitation in brooders has been found to be an element of the health and later growth of the chicks reared therein.

With the foregoing in View, one object of the invention is to provide an improved brooder wherein baby chicks will not crowd to the source of heat or to the warmest portion thereof thereby avoiding high mortality among chicks in the brood.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brooder which may be readily dismantled, cleaned and re-assembled so that thorough and complete sanitation can be maintained with a minimum of effort.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view of a brooder embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded cross sectional View of the brooder disclosed in Fig. 1 showing its parts disassembled, the heating element preferably employed being omitted from the view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the brooder disclosed in Fig. 1 having portions thereof successively broken away to clearly illustrate the invention.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, the brooder illustrative of the invention disclosed comprises a sheet metal base I0, a cylindrical wall member II, a iioor I2, a roof I3, and a ramp I4 leading from the ground level I5 up to the iioor I2. The base IIJ preferably is provided with a plurality of upwardly turned tabs or the like I6 spaced therearound within which the cylindrical wall member I I sits on the said circular base I0 which serves as a means for catching droppings from the chicks. An inverted substantially frustoconical heat reflector I'I is welded or otherwise secured at I8 to the base I9 and is of such size as to receive a trouble light I9 which serves as a heating element to maintain desirable temperature within the brooder. By changing the size of the trouble light bulb 20 more or less heat may be obtained. It is preferable that the trouble light bulb 20 be located substantially in the center of the heat reflector I'I. By employing a hook 2| adjustable as to length, the 'trouble light I9 may be readily positioned in the heat reflector I'I so that its bulb 20 is substantially central with respect thereto.

The said cylindrical wall member I I is prefer ably provided with. a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly turned tabs'or shelves 22 which support the oor I2 when telescoped within the said cylindrical wall member II from the top thereof. A plurality of semi-circular vents 23 are preferably provided at intervals around the bottom of the cylindrical wall member II adjacent the floor I2. VThe electric lead or cord 24 through which current is supplied to the heating element I9 extends through one of the said vents 23 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The oor member I2 is composed of a reticulated material such as a wire screen 25 which may be easily cleaned and which is stretched over and supported by an annular member or ring 26 of steel rod or the like. As before mentioned, the said floor supporting ring is supported on a plurality of inwardly turned tabs or shelves 22 preferably formed integral with the cylindrical member I I. A heat baffle or disc 21 preferably having a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the upper end of the inverted frusto-conical heat reector I'I is welded or otherwise secured on top of the floor l2 at the center thereof.

The roof I3 is circular in shape and slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical wall member II. A plurality of tabs 28 spaced around and turned down from the periphery of the roof I3 lap over the cylindrical wall member II for the purpose of securing the roof member I3 concentrically thereover. A suitable circular vent 29 is preferably provided in the center of the roof I3 as best shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The cylindrical wall member II is preferably provided with a square aperture y30 which serves as an entrance and exit to the brooder. The ramp I4 suitably notched and bent at its upper end as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 permits baby chicks 3| to enter and leave the brooder through the entrance and exit 30. The tabs 32 of the ramp I4 engage the wall member Il at each side of the entrance and exit opening 30 and prevent the upper end of said ramp I4 from falling from the floor level of the brooder, one of the tabs 32 'being shorter than the other to admit of disassembling the ramp from the broeder during cleaning.

By constructing broeders as disclosed herein, warm air currents from the heating element I9 are spread radially by the heat baite 21 and are mixed with fresh air entering the vents 23, which warmed and freshened air rises through the reticulated oer I2 in suiicient uniformity to prevent the huddling and attendant smothering of some of the chicks. 29 creates a stack action of air currents through the breeder.

Breeders embodying the invention heat evenly, prevent crowding and smothering of chicks, pro- .vide an even flew of freshened warmed air uniformly to the chicks and admit of complete sanitation with a minimum of work. In broeders embodying the invention, the more chicks that come in the broeder the more evenly the heat spreads among the chicks, therefore, the desire for the chicks to crowd is eliminated.

Although but one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and described in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in the size, shape, arrangement and detail of the various elements of the invention, it not being intended to limit the scope of the invention except by the terms ef the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A broeder of the class described comprising a base member, a wall, a roof, a reticulated floor disposed between said base and roof, means providing chicks with access to said floor, a heat reflector centrally disposed on said base formed te direct heat currents upwardly therefrom, a heating element in said heat reflector, the said roof and walls having suitable apertures therethrough te provide stack action through said broeder from below said reticulated floor, and a heat baille on said door centrally disposed with respect to said heat reiiector of suicient size te disperse heat currents from said heating element outwardly from said heat baille and provide warm air ii-ow through said reticulated ileer around chicks thereon whereby te prevent excessive huddling of chicks in the broeder.

2. A broeder of the class described comprising a base member, a wall, a roof, a reticulated The circular reef vent floor disposed between said base and roof, the said wall having a portal therethrough, and means providing chicks with access to Said floor, a heat reflector centrally disposed on said base formed to direct heat currents upwardly therefrom, a heating element in said heat reiiector, and -a heat baille substantially the same size as said heat reflector disposed on said oor above said heat reiiector, the said roof having a stack aperture therethrough central with respect to said heat reflector and said heat baille, the said wall having vent apertures evenly spaced therearound adjacent said iloor through which fresh air passes and becomes miXed with warmed reected air from said heating element as the said warmed reflected air flows through said reticulated 'floor around chicks thereon and thence through said stack aperture.

3. A broeder characterized by being subject to rapid assembly and disassembly comprising a circular base, a cylindrical Wall portion, a circular reef, tabs extending upwardly from said base and downwardly from said roof removably retaining said cylindrical Vwall portion concentric with respect to said base and roof, inwardly disposed shelf members circumferentially spaced around said cylindrical wall portion, a iioor comprising an annular outer ring including reticulated flooring material stretched thereon supported on said shelf members, a heating element and an inverted frusto-conical heat reilector disposed centrally on said base, a circular heat baille supported on said floor above said heat reflector, the said cylindrical wall member having fresh air inf let apertures spaced therearound adjacent the bottom thereof, the reef member having a centrally disposed stack aperture, the said cylindrical wall portion having a portal therethrough above said reticulated floor, and a ramp from the base level outside said broeder to said floor level suitably notched to engage and become .removably anchored to the cylindrical wall at each side of said portal, the said broeder providing a sufficiently even flow of mixed Warm and fresh air upwardly through the said reticulated door to prevent excessive huddling ef chicks with tire censequent loss of numbers thereof.

HERBERT C. WASHBURN. 

